Apparatus for closing sheet-metal channel members



3 Sheets-Sheet l L. S. LAMB K Filed Dec.

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING SHEET METAL CHANNEL MEMBERS Feb. 17, 1931.

L. s. LAMB 1,793,222 APPARATUS FOR CLOSING SHEET METAL CHANNEL MEMBERSFeb. 17, 1931.

med Deo. 12, 1927 :s sheetssheet 2 I I l I 1 I l I LL-mr Q. fm. MJL,

L. S. LAMB Feb. 17, 1931.

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING SHEET METAL CHANNEL NUMBERS Filed neef. 12, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet 3 .fig

has 27 ma@ 'I E a5 i' Haai/o Wagga YPatented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED'STATES LAWRENCE s. LAMB, or DETROIT, ivrronreanfassrenonro HUDSONivmTonjcancoM- l DANY, or DETROIT, monreemnconronamon on MIGHTGAN.

APPARATUS non CLOSING sHnnTgMnTL onANNELivrnMDnns 7,

. Application mea December 12,1927-, semaine. aaaaas.

This invention relates to shaping of sheet metal of substantiallychannel form to close Aa portion of the open side, and particularly toapparatus for forming windshield flanges on the front body pillars ofmetal automobile bodies.

lt is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of simpleconstruction which will operate rapidly and efciently for shapingarticles of this type.

Before explaining in detail the present inventi'on, and the method ormode of operation embodied therein, it is to vbe understood that theinvention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings'since the invention is capable ot other embodiments andv ofbeing practised in various ways. Also it is to be understood that thephraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit theinvention beyond the terms ofthe several claims hereto appended 'or therequirements of the prior art.

' In acordance with the invention, a machine is provided having amandrel adapted to tit within thechannel form, such as a pillar or otherpartially shaped article and which is positioned between dies which-aremovable relatively to shape the article to its predetermined form,suitable means being provided for holding the article and mandrelagainst one of the dies during their relative movement. l

The inventioncwillbe more clearly understood from theollowingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

. in which Y Fig. l is aplan view of the lower die member' Y Y. Fig. 2isl a plan view ofthe upper die member v.

Flg. 3 is a sectional elevational viewv taken upon the line 3*-3, Fig.2, and showing the relation of the parts at the beginning of the formingoperation;

Fig. l is a similar sectional view showingY the relation of' the partsat the completion` A of the'forming operation Fig.- 5y isv a sectionalview upon Vthe linek fFe-l.; V-

' o Fig. Y6 is a fragmentary .horizontal section of aportion of anautomobile body showing a rontbody pillar having a flange vformed bymechanismy embodying the invention, together with the door, windshieldand associated parts; y Fig.` 7 is a perspective :view partly in sec.-tion of the rontbody pillar before the form-r ing operation; and F ign@isa similar view after the lforming operation.l The Y. type of metal,automobile body vto which the invention is directed particularlycomprises a front body pillar l0, and a door 11 having a door pillar l2adapted to' close againstthe rear side ,of the pillar l0. A windshield13 is adaptedto close against the.

windshield flange 14 of the body pillar '10.V .f1 The present inventionisparticularlyv diy upwardlyV from' one side of the base and is tprovided at its inner top edge' with-a wearing block 24 secured theretoin any suitable manner as bybolts 25. The projection'23 is. re-Venforced by suitable webs 26, .'27 and 28. Guides 30 for areciprocableupper die membery 3,1 are suitably mounted in the/base`20;

` vAn arm is pivot'ally mounted between `the webs 27 and 28 to turnlabout a hinge pin 36 and is normally held yieldingly inV raisedposition above the lower kdie member 21 by springs 37 extending betweenopenings 38 and 39 in the arm 35 and base 20 respectively. A mandrel 40ymounted on th-e free endof'the arm 35 by a dovetail connection,generally indicated at 42, and is secured thereto by bolts4c3.l f V i AThe upper d'e member 31 isprovided with suitable guideways to receivethe guides 30 and is also provided-with a; guiding surface 4:6cooperating with the wearingblockv Leev 24 upon the base. A suitablyshaped wearing block is secured, as by bolts 5l, upon the lower portionoi' the upper die member 3l in a position to shape the flange 14 aboutthe mandrel and against the lower 'die member 2l. A work gripping member53 is mounted to move in a guide opening 54 in the member 3l and is heldtherein in any suitadaptedto grip the pillar on'said mandrel when saidupper die is moved towards the lower die, the adjacent surfaces of saidmandrel and Vlower and upper dies being substantially parallel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LA'VVRENCE S.' LAMB.

able manner as by bolts 55 passing through Y V openings 56 in the member3l each of which l is providedwitli a shoulderl 5 3 adapted to', engagethe head 59 of the bolt and serve as a stop. The member 53 is normallyheld extended, with the head 59 of the'bolt engaging the shoulder 58, byspringsO extending.

between openings 6l and 62 in the member 3l and member 53 respectively.

When the apparatus is not operating the mandrel Ll0 is normally heldabove the lower die member 2l and spaced from the upper die member. Thepillar l0 or other. article to be shaped is placed over the mandrel 4()land the upper die member 3l is moved towardthe lower die member therebybringing the lgripping member 53 into engagement with the pillar andcausing the pillar car- 'pso ried by the mandrel to move against thelower die member 21. Further downward' movement of the upper die memberv31 compressesthe springs 60 thereby causing Athe gripping member 53 tohold the work vwith a yielding pressure while the upper die movesdownward to bring the block 50 against the vflange, of the work to shapeit about the mandrel and against the lower die member.

What I claim is: p

l. In an apparatus for `shaping an automobile body ront pillar toprovide a. windshield ilange, the combination of lower and upper diesmovable relatively to shape said llange, and a mandrel to lit withinthe-pillar v and movable between said dies, said upper diey including ayielding member adapted t0 -grippthe pillar on said mandrel and move thesame against said lower die when said lower and upper diesare movedrelatively.

2. In an apparatus for shaping an automobile body front pillar toprovide a wind? shield ilange, the combination vof a lower die, an upperdie movable towards said lower die, a pivoted mandrel adapted to fitwithin the pillar, a spring normally holdingsaid mandrel yieldinglyabove said lower die, said upper die including a yielding member adapteed tol grip the pillar on said mandrelwhen IOS iio

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